This textile artwork features a unique blend of elements. The central feature is a circular weaving on the shell, symbolizing unity and continuity. A small turtle motif is intricately incorporated, representing care and preservation. Intricate woven grids on the foreleg showcase interconnectedness in Portland, Oregon, while the hind leg displays an embroidered circle of life, illustrating the cyclical nature of existence. This piece harmoniously combines nature, interconnectedness, and the essence of life into a captivating creation.
For my birthday, I birthed Orquidia, a Chaleco Protector self portrait. Like a flower, our birthdays bloom annually, marking the passage of years with delicate resilience.
With a woven basket on her head and another at her feet—symbols of labor, tradition, and sustenance. Her long braids flow down, embodying a deep cultural resonance. In many Native American traditions, braids signify a sacred bond with the spiritual world and the Earth. They express identity, community, and resilience, while also serving practical and ceremonial roles within daily life and ancestral customs.
